Lock



April 25, 1933. H R, K.RKWOOD 1,905,177

LOCK

Filed Sept. 9, 1932 1Q. mm

INVENTOR Patented Apr. 25, 1933,

. HARRY n. xrnxwoon, or'rrr'rsimseny PENNSYLVANIA., AssIGNoR or rro REI-1J o. SPE-ER, or rrr'rsnnnen, PENNSYLVANIA ont-rovere Loox ' Application ''led September The invention relates to locks of the cylin- ,dertype, and has for its objects the provision of an improved construction with a Vsingle cylinder requiring for its operation a plu- 1 5 ralityof keys. A further object is the provision of alock of the character specified which is substantially as compact as a single key lock and whose cost is only slightly greater than the single key lock. The lock S has a largejfield of use in connection with voting machines and safety depositboXes in vthose cases in which itis desired that the compartment vcontrolled shall be opened only when the individuals holding the keys are all present. Aside from its reduced cost as compared with a vplurality of separate locks, the lock presents in certain of its embodiments much greater security `aga-inst picking than a plurality of separate locks due tothe fact that in such forms the key slots have a common lower edge which interferes with the entrance of more than one tool at a time. Certain embodiments of the invention are lgwn in the accompanying drawing, whereand 4 'are sections on 'the' lines lI-II, III-'III and IVY- IV respectively of Fig.` V1, but with'the keys inserted, Fig; 5 isa plan view of the cylinder. Fig. 6 isa sectionl on the line VI-VI of Fig. 5. And Figs. 7 and 8 are front elevations showing modifications. Referring to the dra-wing, 1 is a lock case yof cylindrical form (often referred to as the cylinder) with a longitudinal bore in which is mounted the plug or drum 2. The drum is provided with the three-key slots 3, 4 `and 5 extending longitudinally of .the drum and meeting at their inner or lower edges, as indicated in Fig. 1, from which point, the slots diverge radially. Also located in the drum in alignment with ythe key slots, are three sets of :tumbler slots 6., 6, 6,6; 7,7, 7, 7 and 8, `,8, 8, 8, in which lare mounted 4the three sets of pins 9, 9, 9, 9; l0, 10,710,10 and 11,11, 11, 11 (ordinarily referred to in the art as tumblers). Each set of tumblers is operated .b y its own key .and when these keys are 4all pushed in, as indicated in Figs. 2, 3 vand 4,

Figure liis a front elevation. Figs. 2, 3

e, 1932. serial No. 632,329,

the upper ends of the pins lie at the periphery of the drum holding thelocking pins in `re.- lease position. A The case or cylinder 1 is provided with three sets of locking pin, sockets, in which are mounted the three sets 4of locking pins 12, 12, 12, 12; le, 1e, 13,13 and 14, ,14, 14,14, such pins beingpressed down bythe springs 15. VVhen'the keyis removed, the springs push the locking pins down'into kthe .drum and lock it against rotation. Since the meet,- ing edges of the key slots 3j, 4 and 5 are not located on the center ofrotation of the drum, v it is desirable to round the meetingends of the tumblers and locking pins, -as'indieated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, thus; avoiding `the-tendency present with fiat-ended pins to interfere with the rotation of the drum when the pins are in release position. vFor a similar 'reason the inner edges of theslots a6 and 8 are 0011.11- tersunk, as shown at m in Fig. 6.' The slots 6, 7 and8 in the drum'are; staggered, Aas indi.- cated in Fig. 5, asL are also the slots carry.- ing the locking pins to avoid interference and` prevent the locking pinstfrom entellg 7,5 any of the sockets in the drum otherthan the -one for which it is intended, The Vtumbler arrangement is, `of course, d iiferent ,for .each key slot, so that the keys re uired are/all dilerent, and the drum can ony be .operated l,

when the keys areall pushed into place. The

`drum carries the usual talon .org arm 16 at `its inner end for moving the locking ldetentk bolt orother equivalent element when the `drum is rotated. f

4 In opening' the lock, all three keys 17 ,1 8 and 19 are pushed intoposition, as indicated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, thus moving the detents and locking pins to release position, after which the drum may be turnedvto operate the bolt through the arm 16. n

Fig.V 7 illustrates a modiication, in .which the drum `20 in the case 21 isprovided Y four lkey slots 22 and four keys 4are `required to release the drum'. "I liereV are in this con,-

struction four ,sets of de c tsfand locking Y pins whose construction and operation is ,the same as illustrated and describedinconnecs tion with Figs. j1 to 6,-except thattheopposing ends of the detente and locking pills :are .11190 Qinthe drum 24 are arranged radially from the axis of rotation of the drum. I-Iere, as in the Fig. 4 construction, the detents and lock- Y ing pins with the rounded ends are not required, but the case and drum are necessarily larger in diameter than the case and drum in the Figs. 1 to 6 construction in order to permit the use of detents and locking pins of the same length as those employed in the Figs. l to 6 construction. The Figs. l to 6 construction, therefore,-is preferable from the standpoint of compactness, weight and cost. In each form of lock, the springs are shown as held-in place by the retainers 15a which slide into undercut grooves in the periphery of the case', but this may be done in various other Ways well known in the art.

' What I claim is:

1. In combination in a lock, a case, a drum mounted for rotation in the case provided with a plurality of key slots lengthwise of the drum and extending radially thereof, each adapted to receive a key which may be inserted and removed independently of each other key, a series of pin sockets in the case in alignment with each of the key slots when the drum is in locked position, corresponding tumbler slots in the drum also in alignment with the sockets when the drumV is in locked position, a tumbler in each tumbler slot, and a spring pressed locking pin in each of the sockets, all so arranged that each set of tumblers may be operated by its'own key Y independently of the operation of the other sets of tumblers.

2.- In combination in a lock, a case, a drum mounted for rotation in the case provided with a plurality of key slots extending lengthwise of the drum meeting at their inner edges and diverging radially from such edges t0- ward the periphery of the drum, each adapted to receive a key which may be inserted and removed independently of each other key, a series of pin sockets in the case in alignment with each of the key slots when the drum is in locked position, corresponding tumbler slots in the drum also in alignment with the sockets when the drum is in locked position, a tumbler in each tumbler slot, and a spring pressed locking pin in each of the sockets, all so arranged that each set of tumblers may be Operated by its own key independently of the operation of the other sets of tumblers.

8. .In combination in a lock, a case, a drum mounted for rotation in the case provided with a plurality of key slots lengthwise of the drum and extending radially thereof, each adapted to receive a key which may be inserted and removed independently of each other key, a series of pin sockets in the case in alignment with each of the key slots when the drum is in locked position, corresponding tumbler slots in the drum also in alignment with the sockets when the drum isrin locked position, a tumbler in each tumbler slot, and a spring pressed locking pin in each of the sockets, the drum being mounted eccentrically of the casing.

4. In combination in a lock, a case, a drum mounted for rotation in the case provided with a plurality of keyV slots extending lengthwise of the drum meeting at their inner edges adjacent one side of the drum and diverging radially from such edges toward the periphery of the drum, each adapted t'o receive a key which may be inserted ,and removed independently of each other key, a series of pin sockets in the case in alignment with each of the key slots when the drum is in locked position, corresponding tumbler slots in the drum'also in alignment with the sockets when the drum is in locked position, a tumbler in each tumbler slot, and a spring pressed locking pin in each of the sockets, all .Y

so arranged that each set of tumblers may be operated by its own key independently of the operation of the other sets of tumblers.

5. In combination in a lock, a case, a drum mounted for rotation in the case provided with a plurality of key slots lengthwise of vthe drum and extending radially thereof, each adapted to receive a key which may be inserted and -removed independently'of each other key, a series of pin sockets in the case Y in alignment with each of the key slots when the drum is in locked position, corresponding tumbler slots in the drum also in alignment with the sockets when the drum is in locked position, a tumbler in each tumbler slot, and a spring pressed locking pin in each of the sockets, said pin sockets being arranged in staggered relation in the drum.

6. In combination in a lock, a case, a drum mounted for rotation in thecase provided with a plurality of key slots extending lengthwise of the drum meeting at their inner edges intermediate the center and periphery of the drum, and diverging from such meeting point toward the periphery of the drum, said slots being each adapted lto reoeive a key which may beinserted and removed independently of each other key, a series of pin sockets in the case in alignment with each of the key slots,whenthe drum is in locked position, `corresponding vtumbler slots in the drum also in alignment with the sockets when the ydrum is in locked position, a tumbler in each tumbler slot, and a spring pressed locking pin in each of said sockets,

said tumblers and looking pins having their meeting ends rounded.

7 In combination in a look, a case, a drum mounted for rotation in the case provided with a plurality of key slots extending lengthwise of the drum meeting at their inner edges intermediate the Center and periphery of the drum, and diverging from such meeting point toward the periphery of the drum, said slots being each adapted to receive a key which may be inserted and removed independently of each other key, a series of pin sockets in the Case in alignment with each of the key slots when the drum is in locked position, corresponding tumbler slots in the drum also in alignment with the sockets when the drum is in locked position, a tumbler in each tumbler slot, and a spring pressed locking pin in each of said sockets, said tumblers and locking pins having their meeting ends rounded, and the tumbler slots which are not in alignment with the center line of the drum having their ends at the periphery of the drum counter sunk.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 7th day of Sept., 1932.

HARRY R. KIRKWOOD. 

